Next Script Fest

[Chris_Keaton]

So when is it? I'm eager to make that top-3, I'll do it, damn it.

Please NO rom-com fest. Please, please, please!

[lawriejaffa]

Well i think after pulp and western fest it would be good to have something lending itself to less 'bad guys in cheap suits' or bandits 1, 2 and 3 :P

I personally dont think pulpfest worked so well cos it was so vague (in the end...) western fest did much better because at least we got the idea :P

I'll join in regardless! Not easy picking a fest theme!

[DarkElastic]

Yes, I tend to agree with Lawrie on that. Even though I have little experience watching Westerns I still found writing for it easier that Pulp Fest, as Pulp Fest was such a vague genre!

Hmmmm what should be the next Fest... Magician Fest? Telltale Fest? Under the Influence Fest? Documentary Fest? Christmas Fest(Holidays Fest for those whome Christmas is wrong)? The Worst Job Fest? Cops and Robbers Fest? Fat Men in Tight Clothing Fest?
No Idea Fest!

[Ezekiel667]

I didn't get the chance to enter PulpFest, so I cant comment on how vague it was or anything, but I know I enjoyed how WestFest gave us that structured, direct theme to write around. Made everything much easier, so whatever you guys come up with, make it like WestFest and I'll be all good.

[lawriejaffa]

EroticFest - theres a theme that has been among the greatest influences among of literature, poetry and even film... (er and i don't mean soft core porn like Basic Instinct albeit i love the music score.) - and michael douglas ass in the moon beam shot... er thats a worry!

I'd like something that is a bit more challenging. We have these good broad genre themes - but within them we're seeing and probably will see - most use them as an easy board of writing and a few attempt something sensational with it. (like the winners of this fest - and a few other underreated imo gems :P)

Eroticism is a huge challenge to one's intellect and maturity - it would be controversial and interesting especially for our more Puritanical writers (who find it easier to describe a man getting shot between the eyes than a poignancy within ecstacy as it were)

[DarkElastic]

And there is a large market for blue movies... 'A bit of blue for the dads!' ;-)

[MrKilloran]

I'm down for whatever, if it'll stretch my abilities all the better.

but Lawrie, you just want Eroticfest so you can have an excuse to parade all those pictures of yourself. :grin:

[lawriejaffa]

Well... so long as I have you... I don't need to flaunt my pictures to anyone else :P Especially if you can stretch your abilities further ;)

[Chris_Keaton]

Westerns are a very narrow genre. But what about Fantasy Fest, wouldn't that be more vague than Pulp Fest.

[lawriejaffa]

Yeah well i dont think westerns were too narrow a thematic choice for the fest - i mean the results speak for themselves imo. Where as in pulp fest lets face it - we had occult thrillers like yours Chris - to noir drama's like mine, ww2 comic book action. Personally i found it a bit bewildering and the lack of direction left me out in the cold compared to the direction others took (and im sure others too were a bit kinda lost on their way a little.)

Fantasy Fest conjures mythology... with the odd fantasy contemp set comedy peeping in :P

Not a bad suggestion actually but it is again very guy orientated :P Meaty action heroes etc (unless we're writing the tale of the bisexual elf - hey... that would fit eroticfest too!)

[Chris_Keaton]

I always think of Fantasy as a girl thing, but that might just be me.

[lawriejaffa]

Exactly ;) hehe

I too am overwhelmed by all the girls one sees in the pictures taken at fantasy film/literature conventions. Ugh damn girls... I blame Red Sonja!

[jamiejay]

i don't think any genre is more guy or girl oriented...

as a writer, i do not feel limited by my gender in any way. i could have easily written a character who was a burly, mean, tobacco-chewing, gun-slinging alpha male... i went with the scarred, delusional, hatchet-wielding, religious extremist psychopath this time... but my first script had an insane goblin in love and my second script had an escaped mental patient with no luck... hmmm.... just noticed i have a propensity for flawed characters with serious psychological issues...wonder if that means something... haha

i actually really liked pulp/noir fest, but i agree there were a lot more of the private eye stories of the noir style than there were tarantino-style pulps... did get a little repetitive.

and i like fantasy... but script fest II was actually sci. fi/fantasy... so... ?

i do not think i would care for a rom-com either... but i'm up for anything, so, if it came down to that, i would still enter... i like mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers, dark comedies... and erotic could be... umm.. exciting...lol ;)

[jamiejay]

also... i didn't mind having a genre this time, but a theme would give us all a chance to choose our own genre preferences...

i still think isolation was a great theme... or maybe resurrection or discovery or... idk... memories... just throwing stuff out there.

what do you think? are they too vague? it would definitely give us variety and unique stories...

[lawriejaffa]

Good for you Jamie, and of course you should definately not feel limited by gender. I am admittedly a little sexist probably - at least in so much that i imagine men and women bringing different things to the table (presuming that occurence.) I'd say most guys do... however I also romanticise somewhat (though you entry certainly supported my notion) that female authors can bring to the table certain 'qualities' (forgive my ambiguity here) that more often than the 'majority' of male script writers wouldnt (here anwyay.)

I mean take your script for example it was like 4 billion light years ahead in terms of psychological and emotional maturity than say 99% of adolescent male created entries :P

Of course ive er read some (female written script drivel)... but not much, perhaps because of the lack of female script writers. While im joking a little with Eroticfest hehe, i think it would probably become a kind of UNFORGETTABLY traumatising experience for every guy under 21 (who likes to see shi* blow up... *ahem*) to read what in general.... more sexually and sensually mature women would have to say on the subject of eroticism and its life consequences.

In a way Lossfest did this too - it really spun the mirror around (most cruelly) on the creator - no gimmicks or easy one liners to hid behind. Either you create work of purpose, merit and poignancy or you make emulative rubbish.

(Nb. I should add the no1 and 2 winners of Lossfest imo were not reflective of that idea, but the sheer volume of 'problematic' films that struggled to deal with the issues of loss, proved its need for extra examination among filmmakers, such as with my recommended topic)

[Chris_Keaton]

Good for you Jamie, and of course you should definately not feel limited by gender. I am admittedly a little sexist probably - at least in so much that i imagine men and women bringing different things to the table (presuming that occurence.) I'd say most guys do... however I also romanticise somewhat (though you entry certainly supported my notion) that female authors can bring to the table certain 'qualities' (forgive my ambiguity here) that more often than the 'majority' of male script writers wouldnt (here anwyay.)

I mean take your script for example it was like 4 billion light years ahead in terms of psychological and emotional maturity than say 99% of adolescent male created entries :P

Of course ive er read some (female written script drivel)... but not much, perhaps because of the lack of female script writers. While im joking a little with Eroticfest hehe, i think it would probably become a kind of UNFORGETTABLY traumatising experience for every guy under 21 (who likes to see shi* blow up... *ahem*) to read what in general.... more sexually and sensually mature women would have to say on the subject of eroticism and its life consequences.

In a way Lossfest did this too - it really spun the mirror around (most cruelly) on the creator - no gimmicks or easy one liners to hid behind. Either you create work of purpose, merit and poignancy or you make emulative rubbish.

(Nb. I should add the no1 and 2 winners of Lossfest imo were not reflective of that idea, but the sheer volume of 'problematic' films that struggled to deal with the issues of loss, proved its need for extra examination among filmmakers, such as with my recommended topic)

I had some really good scripts for that one. Ok, one really, really good one, but showed up late for the dance. Maybe next time.

Jamie, I wasn't trying to bag on girls. I write plenty of Fantasy stuff, I was just saying the audience drawn to Fantasies are more female than male.
I do really like your idea of a theme, instead of a genre. It would definitely give us some variety when it comes to reading.

[RodThompson]

I always think of Fantasy as a girl thing, but that might just be me.

When we got Fantasy for the 48 Film fest, I immediately thought Warcraft. Chris Curl and Matt Burchfield, the team leaders reminded me that not all fantasy is elves and wizards.

Think Del Toro and fantasy becomes gnarly.

[Chris_Keaton]

Think Del Toro and fantasy becomes gnarly.

That is the stuff I long for.

[Ezekiel667]

I do like Fantasy, but since Sci-Fi/Fantasy has already been done I don't think it'll happen. I do like the idea of a theme instead of a genre, if anything, nothing would be repetitive.

This idea probably wont be met with approval, but I think it would be cool to have to write a script based off the lyrics of a song. I get most of my good ideas while listening to certain songs, or artists. Plus everyone takes lyrics in a different way, so you may hear the song they're writing about and think of something completely different than what's being written.

[RodThompson]

INSPIRATION FEST!!!

They require we listen to a song, then write a script based on what the song inspires. Nothing stupid like DeVo...but like Clint Mansell's Requiem Suite.:beer:

[Chris_Keaton]

INSPIRATION FEST!!!

They require we listen to a song, then write a script based on what the song inspires. Nothing stupid like DeVo...but like Clint Mansell's Requiem Suite.:beer:


What, I'm sure everyone wants to read the script based on Whip-It. But bring it on. I have a ton of Siouxsie and the Banshees songs dying to be used.

[jamiejay]

I had some really good scripts for that one. Ok, one really, really good one, but showed up late for the dance. Maybe next time.

Jamie, I wasn't trying to bag on girls. I write plenty of Fantasy stuff, I was just saying the audience drawn to Fantasies are more female than male.
I do really like your idea of a theme, instead of a genre. It would definitely give us some variety when it comes to reading.


i know you weren't. i wasn't offended in anyway. ;)

as far as fantasies being more for females or males... i think it depends on the fantasy... if it's more like fairy tale fantasy, then i would agree... probably females... if it's like lord of the rings or harry potter, probably pretty even... i love all of it. :beer:

[jamiejay]

oooh.. i would love to write a script based on song lyrics. :)

[lawriejaffa]

Maybe if it allowed the entrant to pick their own song - and it was cited with their script entry - that would allow the reviewer to compare the song and script - (not that it should effect what mark its awarded) but just for added insight and interest.

I think its probably too abstract myself but it is a novel idea.

[Blaine]

Not only that, I can see potential copyright violations, much as if you adapted your story from ANY other medium.

[Nektonic]

Caper Fest. Could also be called Heist Fest, but Caper just sounds cooler. Maybe open it up a bit to a broader spectrum, something along the lines of Crime Fest. Anything that deals with criminals or illegal activities.

[krestofre]

I still think Scriptfest I: Pursuit was the best "topic" if you will. It gave the most variety in scripts and some of the most interesting.

To that end, I always suggest picking something off of this list to base the next Scriptfest on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36_Dramatic_Situations

[conlanforever]

Nice list Krestofre....self sacrifice, madness, ambition, a lot of different themes that revolve around loved ones or kin. Some are fairly broad , but could be the seeds for some interesting scripts.

[MrKilloran]

I like the idea of Rivalry as a "topic"

[RodThompson]

I endorse CAPERFEST

[Chris_Keaton]

I endorse CAPERFEST

Really?

[Blaine]

I endorse CAPERFEST


Really?
I think he's talking about these...
http://z.about.com/d/homecooking/1/G/4/C/1/capersx.jpg

[Chris_Keaton]

I think he's talking about these...
http://z.about.com/d/homecooking/1/G/4/C/1/capersx.jpg

Oh, well then, count me in.

[Ezekiel667]

Not only that, I can see potential copyright violations, much as if you adapted your story from ANY other medium.

But we aren't profiting off our work. You can do anything you want based on other mediums as long as you don't sell it, which we aren't.

[Chris_Keaton]

But we aren't profiting off our work. You can do anything you want based on other mediums as long as you don't sell it, which we aren't.

I don't see it as a problem anyway. It's not like a song is something you can 'adapt' at most you can claim to have been 'inspired' by the song. So there is no copyright claim on inspiration, hell you can even use the title of the song.

[Tom Shortridge]

But we aren't profiting off our work. You can do anything you want based on other mediums as long as you don't sell it, which we aren't.

Dangerous, dangerous assumption.

[Captain Pierce]

But we aren't profiting off our work. You can do anything you want based on other mediums as long as you don't sell it, which we aren't.

A copyright violation is a copyright violation regardless of whether money is involved or not. Let me put it to you this way: if somebody were to take your script from this past fest and enter it under their name in a similar contest on another website, would you be OK that with that? Even if they weren't selling it or getting any sort of cash prize if they won? (Just for the record, I realize that this is not exactly the same situation as what's being proposed as a potential fest, I use it as an example simply to point out the fallacy in the oft-repeated mantra that it can't be a copyright violation if there's no money involved.)

And I would point out that a film was disqualified from LossFest (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=164393) because it was "inspired by" a script by another author, so I would very much doubt that this is a road that the mods and admins would want to go down.

[Bridget D.]

I have a solution..(ha-ha)...we have to write a script based on the lyrics of a song we write. (As if writing a script weren't hard enough for me!) We post the lyrics of the song before the scriptfest (like the way you guys do with your posters)

Okay, I won't post any more of my great ideas...though it would be fun to write a song and get someone to write the music for it.

[Nektonic]

In relation to SONGFEST or LYRICFEST or whatever that type of script fest would be called where adapting a song would be the theme, how about instead of a song we would have to find a piece of poetry or a piece of writing that is in the public domain or so old that copyright would have never been an issue? For example: poetry, mythology, legends, fables, ghost stories, etc....

It could just be ADAPTFEST. We would have to say in our thread what the source material was.

[krestofre]

That's a very interesting idea, and I'd be up for it, but I fear by the 40th adaptation attention spans may start to wane.

[lawriejaffa]

Adaptations might be cute if they were not too literal... but otherwise im not a big fan myself really. I mean I quite enjoy the concieving of new characters and environments :P

Its part of the romantic appeal of writing - reading 30 - 40 scripts from which people didn't invent the fundamentals would become a little tedious I think.

Just imagine we could all adapt our western fest entries to a British set 80s new wave punk... new romantic era! Where all our lead characters have to be called Mike!

Miiiike!

[Chris_Keaton]

In relation to SONGFEST or LYRICFEST or whatever that type of script fest would be called where adapting a song would be the theme, how about instead of a song we would have to find a piece of poetry or a piece of writing that is in the public domain or so old that copyright would have never been an issue? For example: poetry, mythology, legends, fables, ghost stories, etc....

It could just be ADAPTFEST. We would have to say in our thread what the source material was.


This could be real interesting in my book. As long as the source material wasn't too specific we would get a wide variety of pieces. It would be interesting to see how everyone interpreted the piece.

[Blaine]

Actually, an adaptation of public domain material might be a very interesting idea. Sooner or later, a writer needs to be able to adapt others' material and this would be a great exercise.

[jamiejay]

i like coming up with unique, new characters as well.. but what's cool about interpretation is that there is so many ways to interpret something... especially poetry. i would love to see what we all come up with. :)

[Chris Messineo]

Actually, an adaptation of public domain material might be a very interesting idea.

We did a month of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations at MoviePoet and it was really fascinating to see what people came up with.

[lawriejaffa]

Certainly to adapt something abstract might be interesting but 30 adaptations of short stories could be horrifying :P

They really could.

Really.

[jamiejay]

Certainly to adapt something abstract might be interesting but 30 adaptations of short stories could be horrifying :P

They really could.

Really.

i agree... i think it should be based on poetry... otherwise, we are not making up the stories ourselves.

[Bridget D.]

or nursery rhymes. Isn't Mother Goose public domain? Jamie - you did a good job with a fairy tale.

[jamiejay]

or nursery rhymes. Isn't Mother Goose public domain? Jamie - you did a good job with a fairy tale.

thanks, bridget :)

nursery rhymes would make fun, whimsical scripts. :thumbsup:

[Nektonic]

Certainly to adapt something abstract might be interesting but 30 adaptations of short stories could be horrifying :P

They really could.

Really.

This short Matrix comic which uses a Chuang Tzu poem is pretty cool, and a good example of what could be done with the combination of a poem and cinematic visuals.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3046841/The-Matrix-Comics-Dave-Gibbons-Butterfly

I agree, it would be fun to adapt a song or poem or a verse from an old book of ancient scripture (not necessarily just the Bible).

[Bridget D.]

I like the verse from an ancient scripture idea. I am just not one for poetry.

[jamiejay]

I like the verse from an ancient scripture idea. I am just not one for poetry.

we should get a choice... so we have more options ;)

[Chris_Keaton]

This short Matrix comic which uses a Chuang Tzu poem is pretty cool, and a good example of what could be done with the combination of a poem and cinematic visuals.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/3046841/The-Matrix-Comics-Dave-Gibbons-Butterfly

I agree, it would be fun to adapt a song or poem or a verse from an old book of ancient scripture (not necessarily just the Bible).

Look at what Stephen King did with a Robert Browning poem.

Here's just the last bit.

There they stood, ranged along the hill-sides, met
To view the last of me, a living frame
For one more picture! in a sheet of flame
I saw them and I knew them all. And yet
Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set,
And blew. "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came."

[Blaine]

I think any public domain material would work. If someone wanted to do it from a verse, fine...from a short story, fine...from a novel, good luck...:beer:

[Nektonic]

we should get a choice... so we have more options ;)

I think that will be needed since narrowing it down to one thing like a poem seems, well, kinda too narrow.


Look at what Stephen King did with a Robert Browning poem.

Speaking of Stephen King, how about his dollar babies? I wonder if those would be kosher for a script fest?


I think any public domain material would work. If someone wanted to do it from a verse, fine...from a short story, fine...from a novel, good luck...:beer:

A writer could potentially adapt a historical event too. It would require doing their own research from one or more sources, but would be another good way to go for something along the lines of ADAPT-A-FEST.

As for novels, if they are in the public domain or if the author can obtain the rights, then they're good -- http://www.authorama.com/

It worked for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies